Health – Preparing for a healthy trip

Illness while travelling can be anything from an inconvenience to a downright show stopper! So what should you do to try and stay healthy while travelling?

We often think of unsafe drinking water as a problem you only get when travelling to exotic countries, but countries much closer to home such as Rarotonga also have water safety issues. So check before you go. If the water is not safe, you’ll need to buy bottled water or boil (three minutes) and cool water if you have the facilities. 

Traveller’s diarrhoea can be unpleasant. If you are going to a country where this is a risk, bring anti-diarrhoeals and electrolytes. Saccharomyces boulardii is a type of friendly yeast (available in certain probiotics) that can be used as a preventative or treatment for traveller’s diarrhoea when taken in the correct dosage. Ask your pharmacist for advice.

Flights tend to be where lots of people pick up unwanted bugs. Getting Covid-19, flu or other viruses while travelling can really alter your travel plans and not in a good way. Think about getting your vaccinations up to date. It’s also a great idea to make sure your immune system is generally fighting fit before you leave. Boosting your immune system using natural health supplements such as vitamin C, D and/or zinc may help. If you are a person who gets a cold and then it often turns into something more nasty, then taking Buccaline could be a consideration. This oral vaccine protects against the bacterial complications of colds.

Remember to take enough of your prescription medication with you. 

Finding yourself without blood pressure medication and the like means navigating foreign medical systems which can be both expensive and time consuming. Make sure you take enough of your medication to last while you are away, plus some extra in case your travel doesn’t quite go according to plan. Get a current medication list from your pharmacist. This will make going through customs much easier.

Pharmacies often have travel lists with reminders of useful items to take with you while travelling such as plasters, paracetamol, electrolytes, flight socks, etc which can be personalised to you and also to where you are headed. Being prepared ensures you have a wonderful trip – literally without the headache.